Adjustable shade-hanger.



PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

L. A. WATTS. ADJUSTABLE SHADE HANGER.

APPLICATION FILED OG'E. 2"l, 1902.

N0 MODEL I UNITED STATES Iatented July 21, 1903;

PATENT OFFICE.

LO UIS A. WATTS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATTSMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION on OHIO.

ADJUSTABLE SHADE-HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 734,025, dated July21,1909;

Application filed October 27,1902. Serial No- 128,943. (No model.)

To a. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. WATTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of.

Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AdjustableShade-Hangers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to window shade or' curtain hangers of that typeadapted for suspension from the top of a window-frame by a cord or cordsby which the hanger can be raised or lowered, while the shade can alsobe rolled and unrolled or drawn down and let up bya cord at the bottomin the usual man'- ner, whereby the shade may be adjusted to admitlight'from either above or below or to cover or expose either the wholeor any part of the window, as desired.

The invention is particularly adapted for supporting a spring-actuatedshade-roller whose spring'acts' on both theupper and lower cords,holding them under tension, so that by letting down or pulling up theupper cord the roller as it ascends or descends will wind or unwind theshade accordingly, while the shade can also be wound or unwound when theroller is stationary by means of the bottom cord, and such applicationis illustrated in the present case, though it will be understood thatthe invention is not restricted thereto. Y

The principal objects of the invention are to produce an exceedinglysimple-and convenient device of this character; to provide for holdingshade-rolls ofdifierent sizes or diameters in the hanger and foradjusting theshade-roller horizontally, so as to insure'even winding ofthe shade;'to render the device applicable for use in the manner. statedwith the ordinary shade-rollers now in use; to pro-1 vide, improvedmeans for securing perfect center balance of the hanger and also forinward and outward adjustments thereof, so

' as to hold the shade more or less closely to the window-frame; toprovide a simple device for. holding up the controlling-cord when with ashade or curtain applied thereto and having its roller mounted in myimproved shade-hanger, which is suspended by a controlling-cord from thetop "of the windowframe in the. manner hereinbefore'explained, the shadebeing shown adjusted to admit light from above and below. Fig. 2'is alefthand side elevation thereof with the left outer member of thewindow-frame broken away. Fig. 3 is a similar right-hand side elevationwith the right outer member of the frame broken away and showing theshade adjusted so as to cover nearly the whole window. Fig. 4 is anenlarged top plan view of the shade: hanger with the shade-rollermounted therein, parts intermediate the center and ends thereof beingomitted. Fig. 5 is a detail rear view of the central part of theshade-hanger. Fig. 6 is a left-hand end elevation of the shade-hangerwith the roller mounted therein. Fig.- 7 is a right-hand end elevationthereof. piece attached to the center of the shadehanger and to whichthe controlling-cord is fastened for suspending the hanger, with thelocking-screw of said slidable piece shown detached. Fig. 9 is a detailview of the device for holding the controlling-cord from the floor whenthe cordis slack; and Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the springend of an'ordinary spring-actuated shade-roller,

such as ,the-one mounted in the shade-hanger herein illustrated. p

' The letter A designates the window shade or curtain, and B denotes theshade-roller, which is of the ordinary spring-actuated type and ismounted in my improved shade-hanger, which latter is centrally suspendedby a controlling-cord O. This cord in the present illustration of theinvention passes over a suitable stop-pulley D, located at the middle ofthe upper member of the window-frame, thence down and under astop-pulley E, similarly located at the lower part of the windowframe,thence up and is finally attached to the center of the curtain-stick orlower part of the shade. The tension of the spring in the shad e-rollerpulls oppositely on the upper and lower parts of the controlling-cord,so that the shade can be adjusted both from the top and the bottom inthe manner already explained, the stop-pulleys allowing the cord to bepulled or released and holding them in any desired position.

The shade-hanger consists of a horizontal suspension-bar F, preferablyfiat and narrow,

with its wider side standing vertical and depending brackets G Gadjustably attached at opposite ends of said bar, one of said brackets(here the right-hand one) having a round opening or socket g to receivethe rotary spindle b at one end of the shade-roller and the otherbracket (here the left-hand one) having a slot or polygonal opening g toreceive the fixed fiat-ended or angular stem 7) at the opposite orspring end of the roller. These brackets, as shown, consist of fiatmetal pieces having side flanges or lugs 9 which embrace the ends of thesupporting-bar, and vertical slots githrough which suitably-headedscrews g are inserted into the bar for attaching the brackets. Onloosening these screws the brackets can be raised or lowered to hold theshade-roller nearer or farther from the bar, thus permitting rolls ofdifferent sizes to be used, and said brackets can also be adjustedvertically to hold the shade-roller in true horizontal positionorparallel with the supportingbar, so as to insure even winding andunwinding of the shade-that is, to prevent its edge from running beyondthe endof the roller.

It will be observed that the slot or opening g in the left-hand bracketfor the fixed stem 0 at the spring end of the shade-roller extendscrosswise instead of lengthwise, the latter being usually the caseinshade-brackets. \Vhile theinvention is not limited to sucharrangement,it is nevertheless an advantageous feature in such anapplication of the invention as herein illustrated, for the followingreason: Asiswellknown,theordinaryspringactuated shade roller (in which acoiled spring for winding the shade is fastened at one end to the-rollerand at the other to a fixed stem on which the roller is rotatablymounted) has its fixed stem 1) formed with a flat end adapted to fit ina slot or corresponding openingin the shade-bracket, which slot isgenerally open-ended and vertically disposed to allow said fiat-endedstem to slip into it. This stem 1) is also usually formed with notches b(see Fig. 10,) adapted to be engaged by dogs or pawls b on the roller tohold the latter from rotating, said notches facing up and down, so thatthe upper dog or pawl will drop into the upper notch by gravity. Now inapplying any of the ordinary shade-rollers to such a use as illustratedin the present case it is generally necessary to take out these dogs orsolder them or otherwise fasten them out of the way; otherwise they willcatch in the notches, and thus cause jerky motion of the roller andinterfere with the proper action of the roller when the hanger is drawnup or let down by the upper controlling-cord, whereas it is verydesirable to have the spring in the roller exert an even tension on thecontrolling-cord both at the top and bottom; but by holding the stem insuch position that the notches face in and out instead of up and down,as in Fig. 10, the dogs will not engage them, but will revolve freelyaround the stem without liability of catching. This may be accomplishedby forming the slot g crosswise to. its usual position in ordinarycurtain-brackets, as shown in Fig. 6, and thus ordinary spring-actuatedshade-rollers may be used in fixtures of the present nature, thedifficulty of removing, soldering, or fastening the dogs, as well as theannoyance frequently caused by ineffecwally-fastened dogs, beingobviated. This same purpose may, however, be accomplished by othersuitable means, as by forming the flat end of the stem b at right anglesto its usual position; also, a roller without dogs may be used, so thatit may be desirable to give the slot g other positions, as well as otherformations, all of which will depend on the fixed stem of theshade-roller. In some instances also my improved shade-hanger may beused where it is not desired to wind the shade downward, only the ripperstoppulley being used and an ordinary pull-cord being attached to thelower part of the shade,

in which case it is necessary to make use of the cooperatingdog-and-ratchet devices, and hence the roller would then be mounted inthe hanger preferably in the same manner as in ordinary shade-brackets.

The suspension-bar F is suspended from the controlling-cord in suchmanner as to permit horizontal adjustments for obtaining a perfectcenter balance of the hanger with the shade-roller mounted therein andalso to permit inward and outward adjustments for the purpose of holdingthe shade more or less closely to the window-frame or windowcasing. Themeans shown for such purposes comprise a fiat slotted plate H,adjustably attached to the bar, and an angle-shaped piece J, slidablysecured therein and fastened to the end of the controlling-cord, bywhich the hanger, with its shade-roller, is suspended. The slot h in theplate extends lengthwise or parallel with the bar, and the top side ofthe latter is cut away or recessed beneath said slot, as shown at d inFig. 5. The middle upright part of the angle-shaped piece or slide J isinserted through the slot h, and its lower fiat end j slides under theplate in the recess (1 in the bar and may be locked in any desiredposition by a suitably-headedscrew K, the stem of which passes throughthe slotand is screwed into the lower fiat end j of the slide. A perfectcenter balance of the hanger with its shade-roller may thus be obtainedafter the fixture is mounted merely by loosening the screw K andadjusting the angleshaped piece or slide J. This is an advantageousfeature over certain prior devices of this character, wherein thehangers must be set for balancing before they are suspended, after whichthey will often hang imperfectly and have to be taken down andreadjusted or which have no provision for central adjustment, but dependfor balancing on weights, which must be adjusted or often taken out andreplaced by others, with consequent trouble and consumption of time. Theupper endj of the slide J is shown flat and bent parallel with its lowerend j and is formed with an opening through which the controlling-cordis inserted, the lower end of the latter being knotted below saiddevice,whereby the hanger is suspended with the cord perfectly straight.The central part of the slide or piece J is preferably of less widththan the slot h, so that said slide may be inserted readilytherethrough. The plate H, as shown, has also two cross-slots h at itsends, through which headed screws 72. are inserted and screwed into thebar F, and obviously on loosening said screws the plate may be adjustedinward and outward, so as to shift the weight of the bar, andthus holdthe shade more or less closely to the windowframe. This also is anadvantageous feature and obviates certain objections of prior devices,in some of which in order to adjust the shade more closely to thewindow-frame the hanger must be turned around, while in others thesuspension-bar is located beneath the shade-roller, where it contactswith and wears the shade. In the present illustration of the inventionwhen the plate H is moved to its outermost position (shown in Fig. 4)

the slot h and the controlling-cord are in the longitudinal center ofthe bar F, so that the shade-roller hangs directly beneath said bar buton moving the plate inward the bar will be suspended from the inner sideof its longitndinal center, and hence the bar will in cline and hold theshade-roller more closely against the face of the window-frame. I-thusprovide means for effecting both of these necessaryadjustments-longitudinal and transverse-while the shade is suspendedwith.

practically no trouble and without the neessity of removal of any parts.It will be understood, however, that I am not restricted to the detailsof construction and arrangement described and that other suitable meansmay be substituted for the same purposes.

By mounting the ends of the shade-roller in depending brackets at theend of-the suspension bar the weight of said roller is brought directlybeneath the same, and the device balances more perfectly than where theroller is mounted in lateral or upstanding brackets, and, further, thebar is at all times kept from contact with the shade. However, certainfeatures of my present invention are also applicable where the hangerholds the roller to the side or above it.

A weight L is shown secured in a slotin the spindle end of the roller.This is merely to counterbalance the weight of the spring in theopposite end of the roller and not for center-balancing the hanger, thelatter being accomplished solely by the central devicealready described.

It is often the case that where the shade is drawn to cover the whole ornearly the whole window the slack cord drops to the floor, where it maybe trampled on, soiled, and worn, 'or become tangled, or catch the feetof persons passing, or where the curtain is applied to a glass door itmay interfere with the opening of the door. Hence I have provided thedevice shown in detail in Fig. 9 for holding the slack cord, consistingof a simple wire hook M, having a looped extremity m, by which it may betied, stapled, or otherwise fastened to the window-sill or any othersuitable part of the window-frame or to the door.

The uses and advantages of my invention are apparent from the foregoingdescription. As before stated, I am not limited to theparticularapplication shown, for my improved hanger may be employed withadvantage where it is desired merely to suspend the same without havingthe shade wind downward or where only one stop-pulley is used.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A shade-hanger of the character described consisting of a horizontalbar adapted to be suspended from the center, with vertically adjustabledepending brackets attached to said bar and formed to receive the endsof a sh ade-roller, the latter being mounted in said brackets beneaththe bar and in substantially the same vertical plane therewith.

2. A shade-hanger of the character described consisting of a horizontalbar adapted to be suspended from the center, and shade-brackets adjustably secured to said bar so as to permit the shade-roller or eitherend thereof to be moved toward or from the bar.

3. A shade-hanger of the character described consisting of a horizontalHSPO11SIOI1 bar and slotted shade-brackets adj ustably se cured toopposite ends thereof by screws en- 'tered through the slots, saidbrackets having flanges or lugs which slidably embrace the ends of thebar.

4. A shade -hanger of the character described consisting of a horizontalsuspensionbar and depending shade-brackets vertically adjustably securedat opposite ends thereof,

the latter having flanges or lugs which slid ably embrace the endportions of the bar and intermediate vertical slots through which headedscrews are entered into the ends of the bar.

5. A shade-hanger consisting of a horizontal suspension-bar havingsuitable brackets for mounting a shade-roller, a device secured to themiddle part thereof capable of adjustment both lengthwise and crosswiseof the bar, and means for locking said device in desired position, and acord directly above the bar from which said device is suspended,substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a shade-hanger of the character described, a horizontalsuspension-bar supporting the shade having a central longitudinal recessor slot,and aslide in said recess adapted for attachment to asuspension-cord, and a screw for locking said slide in desired position,whereby a perfect center balance may be obtained when the hanger issuspended.

7. In a shade-hanger of the character described, a horizontalsuspension-bar supporting the shade, a longitudinally-slotted platefastened to the central part of said bar, an angle-shaped piece or slideunder said slotted plate having one member projecting through the slotand adapted for attachment to a suspension-cord, and a suitablyheadedscrew inserted through said slot and into the other member adapted forlocking the slide to the plate.

8. In a shade-hanger of the character described, a horizontalsuspension-bar supporting the shade, a longitudinally-slotted platefastened to the central part of said bar, an angle-shaped piece or slideunder said slotted plate having one member projecting through the slotand adapted for attachment to a suspension-cord, and a suitably-headedscrew inserted through said slot and into the other member adapted forlocking the slide to the plate, with means for adjusting said platecrosswise of the bar.

9. In a shade-hanger of the character described, ahorizontalsuspension-bar having depending shade-brackets at opposite ends formounting a shade-roller, a longitudinallyslotted plate attached to thecenter of the upper side of the bar by means of fiat-headed screwsentered through cross-slots in said plate, so that the plate may beadjusted crosswise, an angle-shaped piece or slide having one memberbeneath said plate, a fiatheaded screw for locking said member to theslot in desired position, and said slide having its other memberprojecting through the longitudinal slot in said plate and adapted forfastening to a suspension-cord.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS A. WATTS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE SOHOTT, CLIFFORD J. ROBERTS.

